Archive for September 2012

Point 4:Timing Is Crucial – When Abigail returns from intercepting David, she finds her husband Nabal is celebrating a feast day and is drunk with wine. She knew she had to tell him about her actions regarding David and how she prevented David from destroying the whole household.

To tell Nabal while he is drunk and in high spirits would be the wrong time, so she waits until the following morning when Nabal is sober and can take in the seriousness of the situation.

Do we need to challenge someone’s behavior? Let’s look at a ‘Checklist’ to help us in such situations:

A) Do not challenge a person when either your or there emotions are still raw. Stirred emotions such as anger, resentment or rejection, cloud our thinking and we will invariably say and do the wrong thing. This will exacerbate and further inflame the situation.

Wait until you know emotions have calmed down. You can then think and act impartially in the situation.

B) Carefully appraise the situation. Have any of our actions contributed to the breakdown in the relationship. This takes humility and a willingness to be real with ourselves.

If so, we must be willing to acknowledge this to the other person, say sorry for our actions and ask for their forgiveness. God’s grace will always flow and bring healing when we humble ourselves. (1Pet 5:5,6.)

C) Put your trust in God and rest in Him. Learn and speak out the following confession:

When I rest – God works – When I work – God rests!

When we give our situation to God in prayer and rest in Him. He goes to work on our behalf. But if we take the situation back and start worrying and fretting and trying to work it out ourselves – God rests and leaves us to it!

Ps 62:5-6 Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. (HCSB)

Meditation Point: When I am resting in God, I can claim the promise that says, ‘If God be for me, who can be against me’! (Rom 8:31)

Point No3: We now move to the part of this story where Abigail intercepts David and through great wisdom saves not only Nabal and his house, but also David and his future Kingship.

a) Abigail’s first action is to load up donkeys with food:1 Sam 25:18 Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. (NIV)

She knew the value of how much a gift can take the heat and emotion out of anger:

Prov 21:14 An angry man is silenced by giving him a gift! (TLB).

Prov 21:14 A heartfelt present cools a hot temper. (THE MESSAGE).

b) When she meets David she humbles herself and falls on her face before him (1 Sam 25:23) Abigail then proceeds to tell him that Nabal is a fool and his actions have brought death upon the household. She tells David she knew nothing about the incident and to let the blame and it’s consequences fall upon her.

When we humble ourselves we will always find grace, 1 Peter 5:5-7 “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. (NKJV

c) Abigail then speaks with great wisdom. In a gracious way she explains that killing someone except in a time of war is unlawful and constitutes murder and would leave David with blood on his hands (a guilty conscience). Thus when David became King his actions would taint his Kingship.Pro 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (NKJV)

Prov 25:15 By long forbearance and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance. (AMP)

David immediately realizes his wrong attitude and murderous intent. He repents (changes his mind), thanks Abigail for her wisdom and grants her request not to destroy Nabal’s Household.

Do we need to address a wrongdoing in our husband, wife, friend, neighbour or collegue. If so, Scripture plainly states the correct behaviour we must adopt.

Gal 6:1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. (NIV)

Let me repeat again, as the verse states, that if we will humble ourselves and speak gently to correct a person, God’s grace will flow into the situation and bring resolve and a win win situation for both sides. Scripture teaches that in correcting a brother or sister we are to seek to win them back to righteousness and restoration.

Matt 18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. (NASU)

Gal 6:1 Also states that in correcting a person, we are to be mindful not to fall into the same sin as they have committed. What Paul means here is that if we sin and need correcting, we would not want to be corrected with harsh, angry, condemning words, but would want to be dealt with gently and humbly. Therefore let us treat others as we ourselves expect to be treated.

So remember, next time you go to correct a person, prepare yourself. Make sure you are going with a loving humble attitude, with an intention of healing and restoration.

Medidtation Point: Gal 6:1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. (NIV)